Photo courtesy of Pinellas County Tax Collector
Florida homebuyers will receive a more realistic picture of their potential property taxes under a new law taking effect Feb. 1, 2027.
The law changes how public-facing websites and apps display property tax information for residential real estate listings. Instead of using the seller’s current tax bill, listing platforms must base tax estimates on the home’s listing price and state-approved tax data.
The change aims to prevent buyers from underestimating their future tax bills after purchasing a home.
A seller’s tax bill often does not reflect what a buyer will pay. After a sale, counties generally reassess properties at their current market value. Sellers also may have exemptions or assessment limits that do not transfer to new owners, potentially leading to significantly higher tax bills.
“Prospective homebuyers deserve property tax information that reflects what they are actually likely to pay — not what the previous owner paid,” Pinellas County Property Appraiser Mike Twitty said.
Listing Platforms Must Use New Methods for Tax Estimates
Under the new law, a listing platform that provides a property tax estimate through a calculator must use one of two approved methods.
Platforms may calculate estimated taxes using:
- The home’s listing price and current millage rates, following a formula and data published by the Florida Department of Revenue
- The listing price and the county’s aggregate average millage rate
The Department of Revenue must publish the required formula, supporting information, and average millage rate for each county by Dec. 15, 2026. The information must be updated annually.
Platforms may continue displaying the current owner’s taxes and previous years’ taxes, but only as historical information. They also must include warnings that:
- Tax rates vary within counties
- Estimates may not include non-ad valorem assessments
- Estimates may not account for exemptions, discounts or benefits such as homestead portability
Platforms Without Calculators Cannot Show Seller Tax Bills
Listing platforms that do not provide tax estimates through a calculator will face different requirements.
Those platforms cannot display the current owner’s property tax bill. Instead, they must direct buyers to the county property appraiser’s tax estimator or website.
Printed listing materials also cannot include the current owner’s property taxes.
The law protects listing platforms and real estate licensees from liability if an estimate later proves inaccurate.
Pinellas Property Appraiser Helped Push for the Change
Twitty, who serves as legislative chair of the Property Appraisers’ Association of Florida, helped lead the association’s effort to update property tax disclosures.
Property appraisers pushed for the legislation after repeatedly seeing buyers mistake a seller’s historical tax bill for the amount they would owe after purchasing a property.
The association developed the proposal over several legislative sessions. Sen. Nick DiCeglie, whose district includes part of Pinellas County, sponsored Senate Bill 856, and Rep. Adam Anderson sponsored House Bill 827.
Both bills failed during the regular legislative session, but lawmakers later included the proposal in the broader House tax package, HB 7031E.
Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the legislation June 29, and it became Chapter 2026-239.
Lawmakers Say Change Will Improve Transparency
“Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions most Floridians will ever make, and buyers deserve information they can trust,” DiCeglie said. “This legislation improves transparency by helping prospective homeowners better understand what their property taxes are likely to be before they close on a home.”
Twitty said county property appraisers will work with the Department of Revenue and online listing platforms in the coming months to prepare for the February implementation date.
Pinellas County buyers can find the county’s property tax estimator and additional information at pcpao.gov.
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